Motor driven overhead tracked gate



July 17, 1956 v.1. T. HILL.

MOTOR DRIvEN OVERHEAD TRAOKEO GATE Filed NOV. 9. 1954 sinnmnnlnnwnnnEnn I IULILIULIU 5b/Qimmy.

United States Patent O MOTOR DRIVEN OVERHEAD TRACKED GATE Jesse T. Hill, Jacksonville, Fla.

Application November 9, 1954, Serial No. 467,811

4 Claims. (Cl. 39--7) My invention relates to closure assemblies and particularly to cable operated gates.

A general object of my invention is to provide an improved closure assembly, and, more particularly, to provide a gate operating mechanism for locking a gate in lowered closed vertical position and for raising the gate into an elevated horizontal open position.

While many power operated mechanisms or assemblies comprising a generally planar gate or closure member operating between a pair of spaced uprights, and between which uprights the closable opening is defined, have been heretofore suggested, such assemblies have tended to be complex and to require separate locking mechanisms to maintain the closure member iu closed position. Certain such assemblies of relatively little complexity have required relatively great space or have not been positive and trouble-free in operation.

It is a general object of my invention, accordingly, to provide a gate or closure member assembly which is simple in construction, requires a minimum of space, is trouble-free, requires only a small amount of power for operation, wherein the closure member automatically locks in closed position, and which comprises a small number of inexpensive and readily manufactured members.

The novel features which are believedto be characteristie of this invention are set forth with particularlity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is an elevational view of the rear side of a gate assembly in accord with my invention, the assembly being associated with a fence and the gate member being in position to close the opening in the fence;

Fig. 2 is a partially fragmentary perspective view of an upper corner portion of the assembly of Fig. l, the gate member being partially raised toward fully open position; and

Fig. 3 is an elevational View, partially in fragment, taken in the direction of arrow 3 of Fig. l, showing the gate member in fully open raised position.

Referring now to Fig. l of the drawing, a gate assembly is shown comprising a movable gate or closure member with a rectangular frame 1 to which are mounted a plurality of slats 2. The frame 1 may be constructed of angle iron or the like, while the slats 2 are conveniently of wood or metal bolted or welded to the frame. A respective plurality of guide followers is attached to each end of the closure member frame. In the embodiment shown, three such guide followers 3, 4 and 5 are provided at each end, and preferably at least three guide followers are provided at each end. The guide'followers are engaged with an elongated upstanding guide 6 at- .tached to or forming a part of the upstanding post or structural member 7. It will be understood that there is a post 7 adjacent each end of the closure member and that the opening closed by the closure member is dened f "nce by and extends between the posts. A fence 8 may extend from the respective posts in directions away from the gate opening. Posts 7 are preferably interconnected for stability by an overhead beam 9. The guide followers may' be simple short cylindrical posts engaged in a guide formed as a simple channel. In this construction, it has been found desirable to make the intermediate guide followers 4 slightly longer, to extend slightly further out= wardly from frame member 1, than upper and lower fol-v lowers 3 and 5. The followers 3 and 5 may be, for example, 21/2 inches long and followers 4 may be 1A or 1A; inch longer. The gate or closure member is opened by raising the member, and cables 10, 11 and 12 are provided for this purpose. Cable 10 is attached at one end to guide follower 4 and extends upwardly over a pulley 13 near the top of the adjacent post 7 and thence along the beam 9 to a second pulley 14 and finally downwardly to a coupling block 15. Cable 11 is similarly attached to the corresponding intermediate guide follower 4 at the other end of the gate member and extends over similar pulleys to terminate at the coupling block 15, which is shown partially in section. Preferably, cables 10 and 11 comprise a continuous length of cable which passes through the coupling block, as shown, and suitable clamping means are provided to permit adjustment of the relative length of cables 10 and 11. Bolt 16, in the construction shown, may be loosened to permit such adjustments to be made, whereby the ends of the gate member will be raised during opening of the gate simultaneously and equally. When proper adjustment has been made, bolt 16 is tightened to clamp block 15 to the cable at the desired position. A power mechanism 17 is provided to operate cable reeling drum 18 which winds cable 12 to raise the gate member and which unwinds cable 12 to control lowering of the gate member. In unwinding, the gate mem ber is lowered by the force of gravity, preferably at a speed controlled by the braking effect or substantially constant operating speed of the power mechanism 17.

Branch guide members 19 are provided spaced a short distance below the upper ends of the respective main guide members 6, and an opening or guide follower escape discontinuity is provided in each main guide member as indicated in broken lines at 20. The opening 20 is spaced below the branch guide member 19 by a distance equal to the separation between the upper guide follower 3 and the lower guide follower 5. The main guide 6 is unbroken, however, at the positions assumed by the guide followers 3, 4 and S with the gate in closed condition, whereby the gate or closure member in closed position is locked against displacement, by swinging or otherwise, out of the plane of the opening established between posts 7 and guides 6. The only permitted motion of the gate member from its closed position, in other words, is a vertically upward motion along the guides 6.

Details of the upper portion of the guide 6, including branch guide 19 and opening Ztl, and of the end of the gate member, may be best understood from Fig. 2, in which the closure member is shown in partially raised or open position. The end of cable 19, by which the end of the gate member is being raised, is attached to the intermediate guide follower 4 simply by looping the cable about the guide follower as shown, although other attach ment arrangements may be used which, however, should permit rotation or pivoting of the guide follower about its axis preferably without thereby causing the cable to wind about the follower.

For convenience in description, the gate member will be assumed to have a front face exposing the open faces of the slats 2 and a back face exposing the frame 1. The

back face, accordingly, is seen in Figs. l and 2. At the upper limit of travel the gate member is horizontally disposed and, while either the front or back face may face 2,754,604 Patented July 17, 1956V upwardly when the gate member is fully raised, it will be assumed that the front face is to be so disposed. Accordingly, cable 16 passes guide follower 3 on the side toward the front of the gate member, branch guide 19 is arranged to deflect the upper guide follower 3 out of Vmain guide 6 in a direction outwardly from Athe back face and opening 20 is arranged to permit the escape of lower guide follower 5 toward the direction in which the front face of the gate is facing.

The branch guide 19 comprises at its inner end a switch portion 21 of less weight than the free extended guide portion. The branch guide member is pivotally attached at pivot 22 to the main guide 6 and switch portion 21 extends into the main guide through a suitable opening of suiiicient dimensions freely to pass guide ,follower 3. As follower 3, through further raising of the gate, engages switch portion-21, it is deflected outwardly and follows along branch guide V19 in an outward and upward direction exerting, because of the balance of the gate member, an upward force kagainst the underside of the branch guide. At the same time that upper follower 3 is meeting switch portion 21and is being deflected outwardly, lower follower 5 is at opening Ztl, and, due to lthe pivoting or swinging of the gate member about intermediate follower 4 which is caused by the deflection and outward motion of upper follower 3, the lower follower 5 escapes through opening 2) from the main guide 6. Lips 23 and 24 are preferably respectively provided Aat opening Ztl and at the switch opening to insure reentry of the followers 5 and 3, respectively, into the main guide upon lowering of the gate member.

Proper re-entry of the guide followers upon lowering is further insured by the balance of the gate member. For preferred balance, both guide followers 3 and 4 are positioned to be slightly to the rear of the center of gravity of the gate when the gate is in vertical position. In other words if the gate member were permitted to hang free of any guide channels, supported only by the cables attached to followers 4, the gate member would be inclined slightly forward. The guide followers 3, 4 and 5 may be mounted, for example, along the center line of the web 25 of the angle iron frame member whereby the weights of the flange 26 and of the slats 2 combine to make the face of the gate member forwardly of the guide followers greater than the weight toward the back of the gate member.

Furthermore, the intermediate guide followers 4 are located, when the gate member is vertical as in Figs. l and 2, appreciably above the center of gravity of the gate member. The resultant tendency of the gate member to reassume a generally vertical position when forced toward a horizontal position provides the necessary upward force against the extending free end portion of the branch guide 19 to operate the switch by tilting the branch guide about its pivot 22.

As heretofore explained, the free end portion of branch guide 19 extending outwardly from pivot 22 outweighs the inner switch portion 21, whereby switch portion 21 is normally disposed in position to intercept and deflect the upper guide follower 3. As guide follower 3 passes outwardly beyond pivot 22, however, the upward force of follower 3 against the branch guide member causes the member to pivot into a position in which the switch 21 swings into covering relation across the switch opening in the main guide. As seen in Fig. 3, the branch guide is in the last described position, vwith the end of switch portion 21 in Contact with the base of lip 24. Upper guide follower 3, shown in broken lines, is in contact with the under side of branch guide member 19 near its outer free end and is exerting an upward force thereon. As so tilted, the branch guide switch portion has completed the main guide 6 to permit intermediate follower 4 to pass above the branch guide and to reach the same height asupper follower 3, whereby the gate member has become horizontal with slats 2 and the front face of the gate facing upwardly. From this fully open position, the gate may be closed by unreeling cable 1t) from drum 18, and during such lowering follower 4 is permitted to pass switch 21 before follower 3 has moved back along branch guide 19 sufficiently to permit the branch guide to resume its normal position, but upon further lowering, the unbalanced condition of the branch guide and the upward force of follower 3 against the inner end of the branch guide will cause the switch to resume the position of Fig. 2, permitting follower 3 to reenter the main guide 6 at the switch opening and substantially simultaneously permitting or causing lower follower 5 to re-enter the main guide at opening 20, guided if necessary by lip 23.

It will be understood that identical guides 6, guide followers, branch guides and guide openings are provided at the same respective positions at each end of the gate member and the descriptions herein set forth apply equally to each end of the gate. The same identifying numerals are used for identical parts throughout the several figures of the drawing.

While only certain preferred embodiments of this invention havebeen shown and described by way of illustration, many modifications will occur to those skilled in the art and it is, therefore, desired that it be understood that it is intended in the appended claims to cover all tuch modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed as new and what it is desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. In combination, two spaced upstanding structural members defining an opening therebetween, a substantially planar closure member of generally rectangular configuration arranged to close said opening when in a vertical lowered position and adapted to be raised into an elevated horizontal position, each said structural member having a main guide therealong disposed toward said closure member and adjacent the respective ends of said closure member, at least three guide followers attached to said closure member in spaced apart relation along each said end thereof, each of said three guide fol- Ylowers being engaged at each end by the respective said guide when said closure member is in lowered position thereby to lock said member against motion out of the plane of said opening, means for raising said closure member engaging and effective at theA intermediate ones of said guide followers, saidl guide at each side extending upwardly beyond the position assumed by the upper guide follower when said gate is closed, a movable branch guide member operatively associated with said main guide and pivotally connected thereto, said branch guide member comprising a guide follower deflector portion located a predetermined distance above said last mentioned position and below the upper end of said main guide, said deflector portion normally slanting across said main guide thereby to deliect said upper guide follower from said main guide and into following relation on said branch guide member upon raising of said closure member through said predetermined distance, said deflector portion of said branch guide member being displaced into alignment with said main guide upon pivoting of said branch guide member into a predetermined displaced position thereby to establish continuity of said main guide upwardly past said deflector portion, said branch guide member being responsive to pressure exerted thereon by said upper guide follower when in following relation therewith to be pivoted into said predetermined displaced position, said main guide having an opening spaced below said deflector portion by a distance equal to the distance between the upper and lower guide followers adapted and arranged to permit said lower guide follower to escape from said guide as said upper follower is deiiected onto said Vbranch guide member upon said raising of said closure member and Ato accept said lower guide follower again into guide following cooperative relation with said guide upon lowering of said closure member, said branch guide member extending generally upwardly and outwardly from the plane of said opening, whereby said closure member assumes a horizontal position pivoting about said intermediate guide followers when raised suiiiciently to dispose said intermediate guide followers in said guide above said deflector portion.

2. An operative gate assembly comprising a generally rectangular movable closure member having a center of gravity between the top and bottom of said member and having end members which are Vertical when the gate is closed, an upstanding elongated main guide member at each end of said closure member respectively adjacent each said end member, at least three respective guide followers affixed to each said end member in vertically spaced alignment and engaging the respective adjacent main guide member, two of said three guide followers at each end being disposed above the level of said center of gravity and the third said guide follower at each end being below the level of said center of gravity when said gate is closed, means attached to the respective intermediate guide followers at each said end for applying a lifting force simultaneously and equally thereto, a laterally extending branch guide adjacent the upper end of each respective said main guide member and pivotally attached thereto, each said branch guide being biased into position to dispose a portion thereof slantingly across said main guide member adapted and arranged to receive the upper said guide follower and guidingly to deflect laterally said upper follower along said branch guide as said frame is raised above a predetermined elevated position by said means, said main guide member comprising escape means positioned to permit said lower guide followers to escape from their respective said guides as said upper followers are deected by and along said branch guides, whereby said frame pivots about the said intermediate followers as said upper followers are laterally deflected, the upward force of said upper followers on said branch guides being sufficient as said upper followers follow said branch guides to pivot said branch guides into a predetermined pivotally displaced position in which said portion of said branch guide aligns with and completes said main guides upwardly past said branch guides, whereby said intermediate followers are provided with a continuous straight path along said main guides to a point above said branch guides.

3. A gate assembly comprising a generally rectangular gate member, two vertical main guide members in spaced apart relation disposed adjacent the two respective ends of said gate member, three guide followers attached to each end of said gate member in spaced relation thereon, and cooperating with said respective guide members, one said guide follower at each said end being adjacent the top edge of said gate, a second said guide follower at each said end being adjacent the bottom edge of said gate and the third said guide follower at each end being spaced between said rst and second guide followers, gate member lifting means attached to said intermediate guide followers, said intermediate guide followers being positioned above the center of gravity of said gate member, said guide members being straight and continuous' throughout lower portions with which all of said guide followers are in contact when said gate member is in lowered closed position, said gate member having a face facing, when the gate is closed, in a first direction and an opposite face facing in an opposite second direction, each said guide member having an opening above the level of the respective said one guide follower when said gate is closed, said opening being adapted and arranged to permit a guide follower to escape in said first direction, a respective branch guide arm pivotally attached to each said guide member, said branch guide arm extending from its respective main guide member generally upwardly and outwardly in said second direction and each said arm comprising a switch portion normally positioned slantingly across the respective main guide member and operative to deflect said one guide follower and upon additional raising of said gate member by said means to direct said one guide follower along said branch guide, said branch guide being arranged to be pivoted by the upward force exerted thereon by said one guide follower and said switch portion being repositioned by said pivoting into a position aligned with said main guide member to reestablish the continuity thereof, whereby said intermediate guide follower upon continued raising of said gate member will pass said switch and continue upwardly along said main guide member.

4. A gate assembly comprising a generally rectangular gate member, two vertical main guide members in spaced apart relation disposed adjacent the two respective ends of said gate member, three guide followers attached to each end of said gate member in spaced relation thereon and cooperating with said respective guide members, one said guide follower at each said end being adjacent the top edge of said gate, a second said guide follower at each said end being adjacent the bottom edge of said gate and the third said guide follower at each end being spaced between said first and second guide followers, gate member lifting means attached to said intermediate guide followers, said intermediate guide followers being positioned above the center of gravity of said gate member, said guide members being straight and continuous throughout lower portions with which all of said guide followers are in contact when said gate member is in lowered closed position, said gate member having a face facing, when the gate is closed, in a first direction and an opposite face facing in an opposite second direction, each said guide member having an opening above the level of the respective said one guide follower when said gate is closed, said opening being adapted and arranged to permit a guide follower to escape in said first direction, a respective branch guide arm pivotally attached to each said guide member, said branch guide arm extending from its respective main guide member generally upwardly and outwardly in said second direction and each said arm comprising a switch portion normally positioned slantingly across the respective guide member and operative to deflect said one guide follower and upon additional raising of said gate member by said means to direct said one guide follower along said branch guide, said branch guide being arranged to be pivoted by the upward force exerted thereon by said one guide follower and said switch portion being repositioned by said pivoting into a position aligned with said guide member to reestablish the continuity thereof, whereby said intermediate guide follower upon continued raising of said gate member will pass said switch and continue upwardly along said main guide member, said one guide follower and said intermediate guide follower being positioned, when said gate member is in lowered vertical position, by a small distance in said second direction from an imaginary vertical plane constructed parallel to the plane of a face of said gate member and through the center of gravity of said gate member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 663,989 Wilson Dec. 18, 1900 1,980,303 Thompson Nov. 13, 1934 2,219,127 Buford Oct. 22, 1940 2,528,868 Dederich Nov. 7, 1950 

